Who Should Be Baptised?
Question 9003
Baptism is one of the two ordinances that Jesus gave to the Church, and yet it has been a source of disagreement among Christians for centuries. One of the most fundamental questions is simply this: who is a proper candidate for baptism? Should everyone be baptised? Only adults? What about children? Let us turn to the Scriptures and see what they teach.
The Pattern of the New Testament
When we examine the New Testament, a clear pattern emerges. In every instance where baptism is described, it follows a profession of faith in Jesus. There is no exception to this pattern in the entire New Testament.
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached the gospel, and “those who received his word were baptized” (Acts 2:41). The order is plain: first they received the word (believed the message), then they were baptised. The same pattern appears throughout Acts. The Ethiopian eunuch believed and was baptised (Acts 8:36-38). Cornelius and his household believed and were baptised (Acts 10:44-48). Lydia believed and was baptised (Acts 16:14-15). The Philippian jailer believed and was baptised (Acts 16:30-34). Crispus believed and was baptised (Acts 18:8).
In the Great Commission, Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20). Notice the order: make disciples first, then baptise them, then teach them. A disciple is one who has believed and committed to follow Jesus. Baptism comes after discipleship begins, not before.
Mark’s account of the Great Commission is even more explicit: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Belief comes first, then baptism. And notice that condemnation is not for those who are not baptised but for those who do not believe. This tells us that baptism, while important, is not what saves a person. Faith saves; baptism is the outward testimony of that inward reality.
The Meaning of Baptism Demands Faith
Understanding what baptism symbolises helps us understand who should receive it. Baptism is a picture of the gospel. It represents death, burial, and resurrection. Paul writes in Romans 6:3-4, “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”
When a person is baptised, they are declaring that they have died with Christ, been buried with Him, and raised to walk in newness of life. This is a statement of faith. It is a public confession that one has trusted in the death and resurrection of Jesus for salvation. How can someone make this confession who has not believed? How can an unconscious infant declare their union with Christ in His death and resurrection?
Baptism is also described as “the pledge of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21, NIV). The Greek word translated “pledge” or “answer” is ἐπερώτημα (eperōtēma), which carries the idea of a commitment or appeal made from a clear conscience. An infant cannot make such a pledge. A person who has not believed cannot offer such an appeal to God.
Repentance and Faith Are Prerequisites
When Peter preached at Pentecost, the people were cut to the heart and asked, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:37-38). Repentance was required before baptism. Repentance is a change of mind about sin and about Christ, turning from unbelief to faith. This is something only a conscious person can do.
When Philip encountered the Ethiopian eunuch, the eunuch asked, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” Philip’s answer in some manuscripts reads, “If you believe with all your heart, you may” (Acts 8:36-37). Whether or not this verse was in the original text, it certainly reflects the apostolic practice: belief was the prerequisite for baptism.
John the Baptist, whose ministry of baptism prepared the way for Jesus, demanded evidence of repentance before he would baptise anyone. He said to the Pharisees and Sadducees who came to him, “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance” (Matthew 3:8). He would not baptise those who showed no evidence of genuine heart change.
Who Then Should Be Baptised?
Based on the consistent testimony of Scripture, those who should be baptised are those who have repented of their sins and placed their faith in Jesus for salvation. Baptism is for believers. It is an act of obedience that follows conversion, not a ritual that produces conversion.
This means that baptism is appropriate for any person, regardless of age, who has genuinely trusted in Christ. A child who truly understands the gospel and has believed in Jesus is a proper candidate for baptism. So is an adult who has just come to faith after years of unbelief. The question is not primarily about age but about faith.
Pastors and church leaders have a responsibility to examine those who request baptism to ensure, as far as possible, that they have genuinely believed. This was the practice of the early church and should continue today. We cannot see into hearts, but we can ask questions, look for evidence of the Spirit’s work, and ensure that candidates understand what they are doing.
What About Household Baptisms?
Some point to the “household baptisms” in Acts as evidence that infants might have been baptised. Lydia’s household was baptised (Acts 16:15), as was the Philippian jailer’s household (Acts 16:33) and the household of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1:16). Does this prove infant baptism?
Not at all. First, there is no evidence that any of these households included infants. The word “household” (οἶκος, oikos) can refer to family members, servants, and others living under one roof, but it does not necessarily include infants. Second, in the case of the Philippian jailer, we are told that Paul and Silas “spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house” (Acts 16:32). Then they were baptised. This suggests that those baptised were old enough to hear and receive the word. Third, after the baptism, the text says the jailer “rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God” (Acts 16:34). The household believed; the household was baptised. Faith preceded baptism.
The pattern remains consistent: faith first, then baptism.
Conclusion
The New Testament is clear and consistent: baptism is for believers. Every example of baptism in Acts follows a profession of faith. The meaning of baptism as a picture of death, burial, and resurrection with Christ demands a conscious faith response. The prerequisites of repentance and faith cannot be exercised by an unbelieving person. Therefore, the proper candidates for baptism are those who have heard the gospel, believed it, and are ready to publicly identify with Christ in His death and resurrection. If you have believed in Jesus but have never been baptised, I would encourage you to follow the Lord in this act of obedience. It will not save you, but it will declare to the world what has already happened in your heart.
“And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” Acts 2:38
Bibliography
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